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UNDERSTANDING DOCTOR DECISION MAKING: THE CASE OF DEPRESSION TREATMENT.

ABSTRACT: Treatment for depression is complex, requiring decisions that may involve trade-offs between exploiting treatments with the highest expected value and experimenting with treatments with higher possible payoffs. Using patient claims data, we show that among skilled doctors, using a broader portfolio of drugs predicts better patient outcomes, except in cases where doctors' decisions violate loose professional guidelines. We introduce a behavioral model of decision making guided by our empirical observations. The model's novel feature is that the trade-off between exploitation and experimentation depends on the doctor's diagnostic skill. The model predicts that higher diagnostic skill leads to greater diversity in drug choice and better matching of drugs to patients even among doctors with the same initial beliefs regarding drug effectiveness. Consistent with the finding that guideline violations predict poorer patient outcomes, simulations of the model suggest that increasing the number of possible drug choices can lower performance.

SUBMITTER: Currie JM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7514077 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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UNDERSTANDING DOCTOR DECISION MAKING: THE CASE OF DEPRESSION TREATMENT.

Currie Janet M JM Macleod W Bentley WB

Econometrica : journal of the Econometric Society 20200501 3

Treatment for depression is complex, requiring decisions that may involve trade-offs between exploiting treatments with the highest expected value and experimenting with treatments with higher possible payoffs. Using patient claims data, we show that among skilled doctors, using a broader portfolio of drugs predicts better patient outcomes, except in cases where doctors' decisions violate loose professional guidelines. We introduce a behavioral model of decision making guided by our empirical ob ...[more]

PMID: 32981946

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Project description:BackgroundThe increase in therapeutic options for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) has added complexity to treatment decisions. Shared decision making has the potential to help providers and families work together to choose the best possible option for each patient from the array of choices. As part of a needs assessment, prior to design and implementation of shared decision making interventions, we conducted a qualitative assessment of clinicians' current approaches to treatment decision making in JIA.MethodsPediatric rheumatology clinicians were recruited from 2 academic children's hospitals affiliated with a quality improvement learning network, using purposive and snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews elicited how clinicians with prescribing authority (n?=?10) interact with families to make treatment decisions. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A multi-disciplinary research team used content analysis to analyze the interview data.To validate data from individual interviews and enrich our understanding, we presented the interview results to pediatric rheumatology clinicians attending a learning network meeting (n?=?24 from 12 children's hospitals). We then asked the clinicians questions to further identify and discuss areas of variation in the decision-making processes.ResultsClinicians described a decision-making process in which they, rather than the family or other care team members, consistently initiated treatment decisions. Initial treatment options presented to families generally reflected the clinician's preferred treatment approaches, which differed across clinicians. Clinicians used various methods to inform families about treatment options and tailor information according to perceptions of a family's information needs, level of comprehension or mood (e.g. anxiety). The attributes of medication presented to families fell into 4 categories: benefits, risks, logistics and family preferences. Clinicians typically included family members in the decision to initiate JIA treatment after limiting the options to fit the clinical situation and the clinician's own preferences. Family members' preferences were seen as more integral in the decision to stop treatment after symptom remission.ConclusionsDecision making about initial JIA treatment appears to be largely driven by clinician preferences. Family preferences are more likely to be considered for treatment discontinuation. Opportunities exist to develop, test, and implement tools to facilitate shared decision making in pediatric rheumatology.

Dataset Information

UNDERSTANDING DOCTOR DECISION MAKING: THE CASE OF DEPRESSION TREATMENT.

Publications

UNDERSTANDING DOCTOR DECISION MAKING: THE CASE OF DEPRESSION TREATMENT.

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